Why You Should Consider Having an Unplugged Wedding Ceremony
The idea of an unplugged wedding or unplugged ceremony has been circling around the web for a while now and before 2016 wedding season kicks off into full force I thought it was an appropriate time to put my two cents in.
First, I’m going to start by saying I’m a huge lover of social media and love me some Instagram photos… but I also believe there is a time and place for all of that, and your wedding ceremony should not be one of them. Here are the few reasons why,
I believe wedding ceremonies are sacred. It’s a time when you and your fiancé vow to spend forever together in front of your closest family and friends. Be present in the moment, and let it all soak in. Time on your wedding day is so so fleeting, so encourage your guests to put down their devices and enjoy the moment with you.
You hired a professional, trust them to do their job. Maybe your aunt is an aspiring photographer or grandma just really wants to get her ipad out to upload a photo to Facebook. Kindly tell them no. Not only is it frustrating for a photographer to doge all the phones and cameras to get the perfect shot, the continuous flashes from everyone else’s devices messes with the quality of your photos. I could share countless photos with you of guests sticking their iphone out in the middle of the isle to terrible lighting from all the flashes of another camera, but I won’t… please take my word for this. Ask your guests to set their technology aside and trust the professionals to do their job.
Now, I’m not saying there needs to be a phone check in before you enter the ceremony but there are other ways you can announce to your guests that you are having an unplugged ceremony.
Put a nice chalkboard sign at the entrance that let’s guests know you will be having an unplugged ceremony. Make sure to include a little info about what that means if anyone has questions.
Announce it on your wedding website. This gives guests a warning ahead of time that you either would like them to leave their devices at home or save them for the reception.
Have your officiant announce at the beginning of the ceremony that you would like everyone to be present in the moment during your ceremony, and kindly ask them to put their devices in off mode.
There are so many ways to be crafty about having an unplugged ceremony without offending anyone. After all, it is your wedding day, so make sure it goes how you want it to. This also doesn’t mean your entire wedding has to be unplugged, I think Instagram hash tags for your reception are a great idea and allow your guests to capture your day through their eyes. I just think it’s important to remember that you want your guests there as guests.. and that means enjoying the moment and letting the professionals do their job.
If you liked this post, or you think it’s a good idea for your upcoming wedding, share it to your page and implement it on your big day.
